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Why did the Soviet Union build the Berlin Wall

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[[File:Soviet_Tanks_near_Checkpoint_Charlie.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Soviet Tanks face US Tanks at Checkpoint Charlie, Oct. 27, 1961 - picture from the CIA]]__NOTOC__
On November 10, 1958, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev delivered a speech in which he demanded that the Western powers of the United States, Great Britain and France pull their forces out of West Berlin within six months. This ultimatum sparked a three year crisis over the future of the city of Berlin that culminated in 1961 with the building of the Berlin Wall. The division of Germany and its capital city of Berlin among the four victors of the Second World War was frozen in time by the onset of the Cold War despite the postwar agreements to unify the zones.
====Berlin showed contrasts between Communist and Capitalist Systems====
West Berlin remained under western control, but it was located deep inside East German territory, and that made its protection from communist takeover a constant challenge for the western powers. In 1948, the Soviet Union sparked a crisis in the city by cutting off land access between West Germany and West Berlin, necessitating a year-long airlift of supplies to the stranded citizens before the Soviets reopened the passageways. By 1958, however, a similar situation would have doomed the city; it was already too populous and too prosperous to be supplied via air.
On November 10The United States heralded the economic success and political freedom of West Berlin as a symbol of the success of the capitalist system, 1958and it was deeply committed to its security, so a Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev delivered decision to cut off land access again had the potential to lead to a speech in which he demanded that more serious conflict between the Western two powers . At the same time, the existence of West Berlin was increasingly becoming a liability for the United StatesSoviet Union and the East German government. The divided city highlighted the sharp contrast between the communist and capitalist systems, Great Britain and France pull their forces out the freedom of movement between the sectors had resulted in a mass exodus from the eastern side. ====Khrushchev demands US pullout of West Berlin within six months. This ultimatum sparked ====Looking for a three year crisis over way to stop the future flow of people from east to west and a means to check the city growing military power of Berlin West Germany, Khrushchev insisted in his November 1958 speech that culminated in 1961 with it was time for the building United States to pull out of the Berlin Wallcity. The division west interpreted his speech as an ultimatum, and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower became determined not to give in to Soviet demands. Instead, the two sides opened a foreign minister’s conference at Geneva in the summer of Germany 1959 and its capital made an attempt to negotiate a new agreement on Berlin. Khrushchev wanted the Western garrisons out of West Berlin as a precursor to reunifying the city , but Eisenhower believed that protecting the freedom of West Berlin among required an ongoing U.S. presence.  Although Khrushchev and Eisenhower made some progress toward mutual understanding during talks at Camp David in the four victors of United States in 1959, relations became tense after the Second World War was frozen Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 spy plane canvassing Soviet territory in time by 1960. In the onset wake of this incident, there appeared to be little hope for accommodation. At that point, talks ceased, and the Cold War despite Soviet premier appeared willing to wait for the postwar agreements U.S. presidential elections to unify take place so he could begin anew with the zonesincoming administration.
West ====Wall built and troops occupy East Berlin remained under western control, but it was located deep inside East German territory, and that made its protection from communist takeover a constant challenge for the western powers====[[File:Nikita_Khrushchev_in_1959. In 1948jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Nikita Khruschev in 1959]]However, the Soviet Union sparked a crisis in the city by cutting off land access first negotiations between West Germany and West Berlin, necessitating a year-long airlift of supplies to the stranded citizens before the Soviets reopened the passagewaysnew U. By 1958, however, a similar situation would have doomed the city; it was already too populous and too prosperous to be supplied via airS. The United States heralded the economic success President and political freedom of West Berlin as Khrushchev did not result in a symbol of resolution. In the success summer of the capitalist system1961, and it was deeply committed President John F. Kennedy met with Khrushchev in Vienna to its securityaddress the ongoing issue of Berlin, so a Soviet decision in addition to cut off land access again had the potential to lead to a more serious conflict between the two powers. At the same timecountries’ competing interests in Laos, and the existence question of West Berlin was increasingly becoming a liability for the Soviet Union and the East German governmentdisarmament. The divided city highlighted the sharp contrast between the communist and capitalist systemsAlthough they agreed to further discussions on Laos, and they found no solution to the freedom of movement between the sectors had resulted in a mass exodus from the eastern sideBerlin problem.
Looking for a way to stop In the flow wake of people from east to west and a means to check the growing military power of West Germanyconference, Khrushchev insisted in his November 1958 speech that it was time for once again gave the United States six months to pull out of the citywithdraw from Berlin. The west interpreted his speech as an ultimatumKennedy responded by activating 150, 000 reservists and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower became determined not to give increasing defense expenditures, in to Soviet demands. Instead, the two sides opened preparation for a foreign minister’s conference at Geneva in potential conflict over the summer future of 1959 and made an attempt the city. Unwilling to negotiate a new agreement on Berlin. Khrushchev wanted the Western garrisons out of West Berlin as face a precursor to reunifying potential nuclear escalation over the city, but Eisenhower believed that protecting the freedom of West Berlin required an ongoing U.S. presence. Although Khrushchev and Eisenhower made some progress toward mutual understanding during talks at Camp David in the United States in 1959, relations became tense after the Soviet Union shot down an American U-2 spy plane canvassing Soviet territory in 1960. In the wake of this incident, there appeared to be little hope for accommodation. At that point, talks ceased, and the Soviet premier appeared willing to wait for the U.S. presidential elections prepared to take place so he could begin anew with the incoming administrationhis own form of action.
However, the first negotiations between the new U.S. President and Khrushchev did not result in a resolution. In On the summer morning of August 13, 1961, President John F. Kennedy met with Khrushchev in Vienna Berliners awoke to address discover that on the ongoing issue orders of East German leader Walter Ulbricht, a barbed wire fence had gone up overnight separating West and East Berlin, in addition to the countries’ competing interests in Laos, and preventing movement between the question of disarmamenttwo sides. Although they agreed The barbed wire fence was soon expanded to include cement walls and guard towers. The Berlin Wall would prevent the West from having further discussions influence on Laosthe East, they found no solution to stop the Berlin problem. In the wake flow of migrants out of the conferencecommunist sector, Khrushchev once again gave the United States six months to withdraw from Berlin. Kennedy responded by activating 150,000 reservists and increasing defense expenditures, in preparation for a potential conflict over ultimately become the future most iconic image of the cityCold War in Europe. Unwilling to face a potential nuclear escalation over The United States quickly condemned the citywall, Khrushchev prepared to take his own form which divided families and limited freedom of actionmovement.
On Shortly after the morning of August 13, 1961, Berliners awoke to discover that on the orders of East German leader Walter Ulbricht wall was erected, a barbed wire fence had gone up overnight separating West and East Berlin and preventing movement standoff between the two sidesU.S. The barbed wire fence was soon expanded to include cement walls and guard towers. The Berlin Wall would prevent the West from having further influence Soviet troops on either side of the East, stop the flow of migrants out diplomatic checkpoint led to one of the communist sector, and ultimately become the most iconic image tensest moments of the Cold War in Europe. The A dispute over whether East German or Soviet guards were authorized to patrol the checkpoints and examine the travel documents of U.S. diplomats passing through led the United States quickly condemned to station tanks on its side of the checkpoint, pointing toward the East German troops just beyond the wall, which divided families and limited freedom of movement.
Shortly after the wall was erected, a standoff between U.S. and Soviet troops on either side of the diplomatic checkpoint led to one of the tensest moments of the Cold War in Europe. A dispute over whether East German or Soviet guards were authorized to patrol the checkpoints and examine the travel documents of U.S. diplomats passing through led the United States to station tanks on its side of the checkpoint, pointing toward the East German troops just beyond the wall. Concerns that U.S. forces would either attempt to take down the wall or force their way through the checkpoint led the Soviet Union to station its own tanks on the East German side. A wrong move during the face-off could have led to war, and any conventional skirmish between two nuclear powers always brought with it the risk of escalation. Instead, Kennedy made use of back channels to suggest that Khrushchev remove his tanks, promising that if the Soviet Union did so, the U.S. Army would reciprocate. The standoff ended peacefully.
====Conclusion====
The Berlin Wall remained in place until November 9, 1989, when the border between East and West Berlin was reopened and the wall itself was finally dismantled.
* Republished from [https://history.state.gov/| Office of the Historian, United States Department of State]* Article: [https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/berlin-crises| The Berlin Crisis, 1958–1961] [[Category:US State Department]] [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:United States History]] [[Category: Cold War Hitory]] [[Category:20th Century History]] [[Category:Political History]] [[Category:Diplomatic History]] [[Category:German History]] [[Category:Soviet History]]

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